Rick Noriega in Dallas Yesterday

Rick Noriega isn't officially running for the U.S. Senate, but you'd never know it by watching him yesterday.

He was here in the Fort yesterday afternoon for a lunch at Joe T's where he spoke to a group of 50 over enchiladas, picking up campaign contributions and the endorsements of Tarrant County State Representatives Lon Burnam, Paula Hightower Pierson and Marc Veasey before making his way through the rain to Far North Dallas for event at the home of Lenna Webb and Bob Franklin.

Noriega's had a good week for endorsements. Governor Dolph Briscoe, Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and State Senator Rodney Ellis gave him their support, as did the Texas State Association of Firefighters. An endorsment from Daily Kos appears to be forthcoming next week.

Why the endorsements? Why are all of these people lining up behind him now?

Because in the reddest of red states, in the heart of maybe the most Republican state in the country, Rick Noriega looks like he can do the unthinkable: run as a Democrat for a statewide office and win. And after listening to him last night, I'm more convinced than ever.

Part of his appeal is his military bearing. The Texas National Guard lieutenant colonel and Afghanistan vet isn't vulnerable to accusation of being "soft" on security. He can talk about running a convoy and setting up checkpoints because he's been there. As he puts it, he knows the difference between an M203 and an M&M.

"I just got back from two weeks of training at Fort Benning, and when you look at these 18- and 19-year-old kids who will do anything their country asks them to do, you realize they deserve better. They need leadership that is willing to be held accountable."

After six years of the dodge and deflect strategy from Republicans, it's kind of refreshing to hear that. But Noriega also knows that the Republicans aren't going to take this lying down.

"Are we as Texans ready to take a step forward? Our state is off track and if we are going to set things right, we must be ready for the campaign of misinformation that John Cornyn and the Republicans are ready to unleash. They'll use this to divide us so they can maintain power. We have to reject that, but it will be a tough fight."

I can't help but wonder how long will it take before Dallas' own Merrie Spaeth finds a way to swift boat Noriega and tell us he wasn't even in Afghanistan?

But Noriega was there. And he's also served with the Guard along the border, and was tapped by Houston Mayor Bill White to manage the care for 30,000 Katrina evacuees at the George R. Brown Convention Center. That, combined with his background as a legislator allows him to speak knowledgeably on defense, security and immigration issues. If that's what you want, he can do the wonk thing.

But he also has the one-liners down, too. When someone asked the inevitable Larry Craig question, he knocked it over the fence -- "Republicans give gays and lesbians a bad name."

Of course, that wasn't the only bit of Republican hypocrisy that he skewered. He got plenty of shots in at the junior senator from the State of Texas. "John Cornyn voted twice to build a wall along the border. When he's speaking in East Texas, he tells them he voted for it. When he speaks in the Valley, he says he voted against. But he's changed his position on lots of issues since this little chihuahua started nipping at his heels."

And that is part of what makes Rick Noriega such a formidable candidate -- he's an experienced legislator with a significant military background who also happens to be Hispanic. And because he's so strong with issues that Republicans have traditionally owned, he can talk about education, healthcare and social issues without appearing to be "soft" on anything. As he puts it, "Compassion isn't a weakness." Amen, brother.

So who is Rick Noriega? He's the guy Republicans have worried about for years. And he's the guy Democrats have been waiting for. He's a winner.

Help Rick Noriega Today
Today, grassroots activists across Texas are launching a petition to put Rick on the March 2008 Democratic Primary Ballot. The election code gives candidates the option of obtaining signatures or paying $5,000 to qualify a candidate for the ballot. Many candidates opt to just pay the fee because it's the "easy" way to go.

Not Rick. He's building a grassroots campaign, and here's our chance to show the strength of the Noriega grassroots. Texas requires a candidate to obtain 5,000 signatures. Rick wants 25,000 signatures. You can help him get there by signing a petition. Download one here or drop me a line and I'll sign you up.

Also, take time to tell someone about Rick. And, if you are able, send him a few dollars. A small investment in time and money today could mean a Democratic senator from Texas in 2008.

More Cowtown Election News

Burnt Orange Report sez Tarrant County Democratic Party Chairman Art Brender is not a declared candidate for Senate District 10. "In fact, based on his speech last night, he sounds like a County Chair that will remain on the job till the end of his term in 2008," Todd Hill writes. "Also, the first declared Democrat candidate for the open HD 97 seat vacated by Anna Mowery is 2006 candidate Dan Barrett. Dan declared, to approving applause, 'a Democrat is going to win District 97!'" Let's hope so.

Republicans for Rick Noriega

Republicans for Rick Noriega? It's not that far-fatched reports the Half Empty blog.

Houston business leader Massey Villarreal announced that he is forming a “Republicans for Rick Noriega” committee to support Rick Noriega’s campaign for US Senate from Texas. This is a guy who was the national Hispanic vice-chairman of the Bush/Cheney for President Campaign and deputy vice-chairman of the Republican National Convention in 2000. He is supporting Mitt Romney for president, and voted for Kay Bailey Hutchison for Senate.

“I have told Senator [John] Cornyn I am disappointed because what his words are, and what his actions on the Senate floor are, are two different things,” Villarreal said.

“It’s disappointing he voted for those [immigration bill] amendments. Those amendments were mean-spirited in nature. I believe he is appealing to the base and I’m sorry, the base will have to come out strong to re-elect him because the Latino community won’t be there for him.”

Dennis Kucinich for President

I'm not sure that this country is ready for a president named Dennis, but teh interweb quiz told me to vote for him, so here I am. Here's how I scored on the quiz: Kucinich 45, Gravel 38, Obama 26, Edwards 25, Richardson 23, Clinton 23, Biden 18, Dodd 17, Paul 3, McCain -9, Cox -16, Thompson -20, Huckabee -25, Giuliani -26, Brownback -41, Romney -41, Hunter -41, Tancredo -42.

As Paul pointed out to me when he sent me this quiz, some issues (campaign finance reform, earmarks in legislation, and investment in alternative energy, for example) aren't mentioned as issues of interest. An excellent point. But I am still wondering who the hell Gravel is? Am I that much of a wackjob that I identify with candidates no one has ever heard of?

I Stand Corrected

So you spend your time working on blog, trolling the Internet, looking for interesting topics to expound upon. You try to make it good. And what happens? Nobody reads it. Your voice is an echo in the wilderness.

Then, you have days like today, when you get comments like this one on my "Follow The Money" post from April 18:

I am writing to correct the record to this posting.

The "Pete Geren" listed is most likely Preston M. Geren Jr. - the father of Acting Secretary of the Army Preston M. Geren III.

The Acting Secretary of the Army Geren did not make any contribution to the Rudolph Giuliani presidential campaign. He does not make contributions as a matter of practice. He certainly would not make a contribution to a presidential campaign while serving a president.

Very Respectfully,

COL Dan Baggio
Chief of Army Media Relations

OK then. So I check the Google and find that the Army does have a spokesman named Dan Baggio. So I go back and check my post. Pete Geren, $2,300, Rudy Giuliani. OK. Go back to the database. Preston Geren, $500, Rudy Giuliani. OK, where's the number 2,300 come from? Which Preston are we talking about?

So I go to the FEC database. We find that Preston M. Geren Jr. donated $500 to the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee Inc. on March 27. Research would seem to support the good Colonel's claim. So did the numbers change? Do I just suck at reporting? What happened? I don't know.

But here's what I have to do -- man up and say I just screwed the pooch. So here goes:

Dear Secretary Geren:

Your Chief of Media Relations, Col. Dan Baggio, contacted me regarding my post of April 18 where I reported that you had donated $2,300 to the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee. I was wrong. You didn't donate the money. Looks like your dad did. And it was only $500. My bad. I apologize.

But as long as I got you here reading my blog and all, I'd like to ask you a few questions:

What's up with all the Preston Gerens? I know it's a family name and all, but could you mix it up a little for those of us who can't keep y'all straight.

Next time you talk to Charlie ... could you ask him for one a those "Life's too short to live in Dallas shirts?" I wear an XXL. Too many Railhead ribs, y'know.

Next time you see Col. Dan you might check his computer. He's on the Interwebs a lot. He might be looking at porn. Check his hard drive just to make sure.

Regarding Iraq: I know y'all are working on it a lot, and you're spending a lot of money, but could you do one thing for me: please help Pfc. Joshua Calloway. He seems like a good kid who is suffering from PTSD at Walter Reed. And, honestly, it sounds like the Army is doing a horrible job of helping this young man. Please, please get Joshua the help he deserves.

Respectfully and sincerely,

Steve

P.S. The next time I see you up at Ocean Rock, I'll buy you a beer. Friends?

Follow the Money: Fort Worth

I have a confession: I love Paul Burka. In another life, I will be Paul Burka. But I am no Paul Burka. I am not worthy to rinse out his coffee cup. Sad, but true.

However, Paul had a fun play-along-at-home game today called Follow The Money. Thanks to this handy link in the Left Coast Media Conspiracy (also known at the NYT) anyone with a CPU and an internet connection can dial up 2008 campaign contributions to presidential campaigns thru March 31 or this year. Heh. (Gawd I love the interweb.)

Anywhoo, Burka and associates have been looking at where the money is flowing around the state:

Austin: 78703, 78746, and 78731

Austin: 78701

Houston: 77002, 77019, 77006, and 77027

San Antonio: 78208, 78212, 78209, 78257, 78258, and 78207

Dallas: 75220, 75229, 75225, 75230, 75209, 75219, 75244, 75093, 75254, and 75201. (Funniest line here: "Merrie Spaeth, $2,300 to Giuliani. Founder of Spaeth Communications; widow of Tex Lezar. If the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth were the cast of Ocean's 11, she would be Angie Dickinson."

CEOs

But what about Cowtown? I just couldn't let this one go. So I did a little searching. What did I find?

One thing jumps out: FORT WORTH LOVES THEM SOME RUDY. (And you wondered why Rudy was smiling up there.) In a town full of money from investments and oil, it's not much a shock that money would flow toward Republican candidates. But it is by far going toward Giuliani, with McCain in second and Mitt Romney third. Among the Democrats, trial lawyer money is flowing toward John Edwards. Hillary is a distant second among the left leaning fat wallets. What was surprising: No Bob Simpson from XTO Energy. No one named Bass. Anywhere. Now for a a look at the West Fort Worth zip codes:

76109 (Tanglewood/Overton Park/Colonial)

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Socialite Kim Baldi gave $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani.

Preston M. Geren, Jr.*, Father of Pete, the acting secretary of the Army, gave $500 to Rudy Giuliani.

William Reimann, of Barbnet Investments (affiliated with the Bass Family), and his wife, Ruth, each gave $1,000 to Rudy Giuliani.

Dr. Joseph Milne, an orthopedic surgeon, gave $1,000 to Mitt Romney.

William Jones of Richard Carbon and Energy gave $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani.

Henry Stewart of Bass Enterprises gave $2,000 to Rudy Giuliani.

Randall Lyle of South Platte Energy gave $1,000 to Hillary Clinton.

76102 (Downtown)

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David Bonderman, Founding Partner of Texas Pacific Group Capital (they're buying TXU and everything else), $2,300 John McCain.

Greg Blaies, Partner at Blaies and Hightower, $4,600 to Rudy Giuliani.

David Chappell of Chappell Hill LLP and his wife, Ann, each gave $2,300 to John Edwards.

Tom Chambers, Chairman of Chambers Interests, gave $4,600 to Rudy Giuliani.

Investor Richard Davidovich gave $2,300 to Mitt Romney.

Socialite Karen Davis gave $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani.

Ben Fortson, independent oil producer and trustee emeritus of Texas Christian University, $4,600 to Rudy Giuliani. Kay Fortson, president and chair of the board of directors of the Kimbell Art Foundation since 1975 and as a director since 1956, gave $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani. Lisa Burton, daughter of Ben and Kay Fortson, gave $4,600 to Rudy Giuliani.

Mark Hart of Corriente Advisors LLC, and his wife Shannon each gave $4,600 to Rudy Giuliani.

Dee Kelly of Kelly, Hart and Hallman, really loves to cover his bets (in true lawyer fashion). He gave $2,300 to John McCain, $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani and $2,300 to Mitt Romney. Yeesh! Pick one already!

The Moncriefs: Richard Moncrief gave $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani and $2,300 to John McCain. Marsland Moncrief gave $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani and $2,300 to John McCain. Charles and Kit Moncrief gave $2,100 to John McCain. W.A. Moncrief gave $2,100 to John McCain.

Katherine Wynne of Wynne Petroleum gave $4,600 to Rudy Giuliani.

Richard Rainwater, investor/fund manager/billionaire, $2,100 to John McCain. Darla Moore (aka Mrs. Richard Rainwater), gave $2,100 to John McCain.

Geoffory Raynor, lead partner of the unfortunately named investment group Renegade Swish LLC, gave $4,600 to Rudy Giuliani.

Robert Schumacher, President of Texland Petroleum, L.P., gave $2,000 to John McCain.

76107 (Arlington Heights/Westover Hills)

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The Corbetts: Brad Corbett of S&B Technical Product gave $4,600 to Rudy Giuliani. His wife, Jennifer, gave another $2,300. Gunhild Corbett gave another $2,300. Todd Corbett gave another $2,300.

Cliff and Georgina Condrey of Moncrief Oil each gave $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani.

James Dunaway of Dunaway Associates and his wife, Carol, each gave $2,300 to Mitt Romney.

Pediatric dentist Gene Kouri and his wife, Moselle, each gave $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani.

Wade Nowlin of William Rigg Company gave $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani.

Charles Shewmake, Associate General Counsel for BNSF Railway Company, gave $1,000 to Mitt Romney.

76132 (Mira Vista)

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Dave Gillespie, Q Investments, gave $2,300 to to Rudy Giuliani.

Darrell Keith of the Keith Law Firm gave $2,300 to John Edwards.

Donald Mason of Bass Enterprises LP gave $2,000 to Rudy Giuliani.

76116 (Ridglea/Ridgmar/Westover Hills)

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William Harvey of Harvey Properties gave $4,600 to Rudy Giuliani.

76110 (Mistletoe Heights/Ryan Place)

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Paul and Barbara Grunde of S&B Technical Products gave $2,300 each to Rudy Giuliani.

* CORRECTION, 6.22.07: I mistakenly reported that Army Secretary Pete Geren donated $2,300 to Rudy Giuliani's campaign. He did not. According to FEC records, his father donated $500 on March 27, 2007. I apologize for the errors. You can find my letter of apology to the Secretary here.